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Otago Daily Times, Issue 4437, 9 May 1876, Page 2

That Britain's '' greatest defence and ornament" is heivnavy, is a proposition that will we are sure be readily subscribed to by all who perused the interesting and instructive article upon the subject which; we published in our issue of Saturday last. The efflux of time, has not indeed subtracted one scintilla of truthfulness from the eulogy passed upon the then wooden walls of the country by the great Sir William Blaokstone, part of whose words we have above quoted. What an array of figures and facts suggestive of mighty power does this article contain ! Our contemporary the London Times has, as it always does when it takes up a question of this kind, pithily arid clearly given its readers an insight into the character of the maritime defences of the Empire. Vessels registering thousands of tons, and wrapped in almost impenetrable armour; armed with weapons awful in their might, such as guns weighing from four tons up to eighty-four tons, and throwing solid shot of from sixty pounds weight up to six hundred and ninety eight pounds weight —this is the character of the navy of the present day. It seems almost incredible that such an enormously progressive stride in the appliances of naval warfare should have been taken in so short a period. Only thirty years ago, the wooden walls were still the Empire's dependence, from the stately three-decker, with her array of broadside guns, down through the various " rates" and dashing frigates and corvettes, to the oldfashioned gunbrig and gunboat, all then considered most efficient, and well armed. But the guns they mounted were but popguns compared to the monsters which now-a-days gape open-mouthed from the turrets, casemates, and ports of the huge floating iron batteries which carry them, between which and the vessels of the past there is absolutely no comparison, so radical is the change of build that has been effected within the short period of a quarter of a century. In nothing so much as in the advance of engineering science has the abounding of knowledge in these late days been manifested. This knowledge has been applied with wondrous effect to navy construction, and still is progressing, for the designs of yesterday are pronounced faulty to-day, even as those of to-day will shrink under to-niorrow's critical test. Who dare hazard a conjecture even as to the character of the navy a score of years hence 1 The navy of the j>resent., perfect though it seems, and immensely powerful as it undoubtedly is, is pronounced to be open to improvement; and more than that, that a thorough change in the form of vessels may poisibly lvnder the entire reconstruction of the navy necessary, ia prognosticated. Well may it be asked, when will this ruinous expenditure in-

curred merely for the purposes of offence, and defence reach its limit? •'. Britain, however, is governed merely by ;the maxims..of the commonest wisdom in keeping pace with the times "in this respect. " Ready, aye ready," must be the watchword now, even as it ever has been; and with bold hearts behind her iron walls, and marshalled hosts of the old breed ashore, the ''tight little island" may still, as of yore, bid defiance "to the four corners of the world in arms" against her. '"-■■■

To-day we publish Sir J. Vogel's reply to Mr Macandrew's last comment, and Sir George Grey's' letter to the three gentlemen constituting the Commission of Enquiry. It will be noticed from Sir J. Vogel's letter that an Inspector^ in. Lunacy for. the Colony has been selected at home.

i It will be seen by announcement elsewhere that Mr C. S. Reeves is, in accerdance with his promise at the last election, a candidate for the Mayoralty during the forthcoming Municipal year. Mr Reeves makes this early announcement understanding that ''an active canvass is being made by the gentleman at present occupying the civic chair, with a view to his retention of office."

■ The fifth half-yearly meeting of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand was held yesterday afternoon. The Report submitted ; v by the Directors waa unanimously ad opted. There were four vacancies in the Directory to bo filled, as in addition to the three Directors Who retired by rotation, Mr Butterwortb. tendered his resignation. Oil a poll being taken the following gentlemen were elected as Directors:—Messrs B. Glendihing, E. B. Cargill, E. Prosser, and P. 0. NeilL Messrs Begg and Leary were re. elected Auditors, A full report of the proceedings is given elsewhere.

■ Only about fifty persons were present at the adjourned meeting of the meniberttOf the Dunedin Athenoaum last' evening. After much discussion,' it was resolved that the Committee be authorised to extend the present building at a cost not exceeding £1500,, wheneyer the; aam of £500 has been raised by donations, or the sale of life member's tickets ; that the Committee be authorised to borrow on debentures, or otherwise, the amount of £1000 } and that a sinking fund be created to repay the sum borrowed.

The Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club met at the Empire Hotel last night. The handicaps for the Tradesmen's Races, which are to take place on May 24th, were ultimately agreed on, and will be found in another column. ;

Two memorials, largely signed by owners and occupiers of land-in the Lower Shag Valley and Waikouaiti districts, asking tbe Superintendent to .proclaim a season for coursing hares during the months of May, June, and July, were forwarded to His Honour yesterday, and "will probably bo con^ sidered by the Executive at a meeting to-day. , , : ; I

At tbe meeting of tho Otago Institute to be held this evening; Professor Coughtrey will read a paper on the transportation of salmon ova on long sea voyages.

We are informed that arrangements have been made by the Kaitaugata Railway Company with the Provincial Government for working their line, which has been recently completed. From and after to day a goods tiain will leave Stirling daily for Kaitsingita at 3.15 p.m., returning therefrom at 3.45. The cost to the Government will be very little, as tb.9 engine which will ha employed in this service would otherwise, have to remain idle at Stirling during that part of the day. A large number of trucks have already been forwarded to Kaitangata, and it is said that there aro no less than 60 laden with grain and coal, ready for transmission to Dunedin. In reference to the above line we have been requested to publish the following communication which has been received from the Public Works Office at Wellington by Mr A. J. Smyth, managing director for the Company :—" Sir,—Reverting to your letter of ths 15th February, and to my reply thereto of 14th March, relative to inspection of; Kaitangata Branch Line, I am now directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public W;Orks to forward to you a copy of the cer-, tidcaf.e of the inspecting officer (Mr W. N. Blair) notifying that the above line is safe and fit for public traffic." The recently-appointed Surveyor-General for the Colony, Mr J. T. Thomson, is appa rently losing no time in taking the necessary sttps for getting the department over which he has been appointed to preside in a proper state of organisation. Mr 0. W. Adams, formerly of Wellington,-but who has latterly filled the office of District Surveyor at Lawrence, has qualified himself by actual examination in the, astronomical branch of the service. He has been recommended for appointment to select the meridional circuits in the Middle* Island for the initiation of actual survey mathematically reduced upon the meridian and perpendicular. One of the most intelligent officers of the North Island has been a^ked to come to Dunedin to observe the true meridian, for the purpose of introducing the astronomical and mathematical system of survey into the North Island, in tlioae places where it has not yet been commenced. Other appointments have also been mentioned, but nothing definite has been. so. far arranged concerning them. We believe that Mr Thomson will receive every assistance from the local authorities in all the Provinces of the Colony. The Superintendents of Otago, Canterbury, and Marlborough have dll personally expressed their desire to co operate with him, for the purpose of enabling him to bring to a successful issue the work which has been entrusted to his care.

Mr John Hislop, Secretary to the Education Board, has returned from Wellington, where he has been for the last three weeks. It is understood that Mr Hislop was summoned to Wellington by the General Govern ment, but for what purpose has not yet been made public. It is, however, generally surmised that the authorities in Wellington were desirous of obtaining his assistance and experience in framing an Educational Bill fo r submission to the General Assembly during its next session. A deputation, consisting of Messrs W. Barr, James Fife, A. LawsoD, and H. Crossley, yesterday waited upon His Honour the Superintendent. Mr Barr explained that the object of the deputation was to induce the Government to provide a railway siding in the Kaikoiai Valley near the end of the Catversham Tunnel. He then went on to show the benefits which would be conferred on the residents in that locality it the re (juest of the deputation were complied with. It was also stated that if the siding were provided a considerable quantity of goods ; which at present is eeut to Dunedin by drays would be forwarded by rail. His Honour replied that he considered the re quest a reasonable one, and he would see what could be done in the way of having it granted.

The Mount Ida Chronicle acknowledges its indebtedness to the Dunedin newspapers for the law reports published by them, but complains that they have failed to publish a report of the important case of Glassford v. lieid and others. The complaint is unjust, as we have done our duty in faithfully recording the various stages of the case. If our contemporary consults the Daily Times of the 26th April, he will find that the case is s;till iv limbo. Oa the 25th April, a rule nisi, calling upon defendants to show cause

why judgment should not be entered up for the plaintiff on the fourth and fifth pleas, notwithstanding the verdict of the Jury, &c., &c, was fully argued, and His Honour then reserved his judgment, which has not yet been delivered, If our contemporary thinks, that a report of the dry, legal argument' which took place on ttiat occasion would in the least enlighten the public, he is simply labouring under a delusion, and should he doubt our assertion, we recommend him, when he is enjoying a holiday in Dunedin, to spend an hour or two at the Supreme Court in banco, when the wearers of wigs and gowns are revelling in a day's argument.

It was stated in town, yesterday that some of those who have not felt satisfied with the recent decision of the Waste Lands Board, intend putting it to the test as to whether it is determined not to sell any land helduncler similar terms to those of Messrs Neill, Gargill, and others; and that an application for tho above purpose would be made to the Board to-morrow, or to-morrow week.

The 10.5 o'clock train from Dunedin to the Port yesterday was delayed nearly half-an-hour by an accident to the railway opposite Wales'a Quarry. Blasting operations in the hard rock are still in progress there, and it appears that a more than usually effective shot sent a large piece of rock down upon the line, the result being the displacement of one of the rails. Then the train came along, and had to stop whilst, the damage was, made good, many of the passengers getting out and walking into the Port in preference to waiting. It did not take long to replace the rail,, and the train reached the Port at 11 o'clock, and was despatched back to Dunedin 10 ' minutes later.

Sundry drunkards faced the Bench yes. terday morning at the Port Chalmers Court. Mary Cameron, Francis Walsh, Francis Nolson, J. Bojzart, and J. M'Lagerfc were cautioned and discharged, as they appeared for the first time. J. B. Miller was fined ss, with the usual alternative, and W. Brady 10s, or in default to do Government'duty fj>r4Bh6urs. "'.'',"'

| At the conclusion of the proceedings which took place yesterday.evening, ;in reference to the lighting up of the Princesa Theatre, Mr Sibbald entertained the workmen who had b|een employed in tlw erection of the building at a supper in the long room in the Pro-, vincial Hotel. After the usualloyal toasts had been disposed of, Mr Sibbald 3 who occupied the chair, proposed the health of Mr Davies, foreman of the worka, in eulogistic torms. Mr Wales also proposed tho health of Mr Johnston, plumber, who had the contract for lighting the Theatre. Then followed the toast of "The Workmen/ coupled with the 2ames of the three men who had been longest ( on the works. Mr Sibbald's. health was then proposed in return. Songs intervened between the toasts, and the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

The opening of the new Princess Theatre will take place this evsning, when Mdlle. De Murska's' Company will make their appearance there. Mdlle. De Murska will give a Hungarian pastoral aong, which created quite a sensation in Melbourne, and which, it may be mentioned, is not the Hungarian Bong that she has already given here. She will also give variations by Proch, and which is said to be a very beautiful composition, Maestro Strauss Ilia will perform on the violin for the first time in Dunedin, and Herr Schott will also appear on the occasion. • The Choral Society's rehearsal last evenrig was, we are sorry to say, but very indjfferently attended. There were present, two altos, five trebles, five tenors, and two basses. The attendance of instrumentalists was good. It is to be hoped that there will' be a better muster at the next practices, now that the concert is drawing nigh.

"The White Cockade, "■ an excellent drama based upon some exciting Scotch scenes of 1745, was very creditably mounted at the Queen's Theatre last evening. There was a good attendance, the pit and stalls being crowded. The plot is rather complicated,, and requires close attention on the part of the audience throughout to ; enable, them to. appreciate it thoroughly. The drama, which is in five acts, abounds in good situations. . Mrs 'Walter Hill, with, her usual carefulness, sustained the part of Isabelle, and was very successful. Mr Steele contributed in no small degree to the success of the drama by his natural and clever representation of Sir Andrew, Sylverton. It was evident that Mr Stoneham had made a special study of the role of Evan M'lan, and the numerous bursts of applause whioh greeted- his efforts must have been very gratifying to him. Mr Clinton was occasionally very good as Cyril Sylferton, and the same may fairly be said of Mr Musgrave as Sir William Ashford. ' Misses Lilly M?y, Marion Willis, and Bessie Vivian deserve.commendation for their artistic ren. during of Jesiie M'Lsod, Highland Kate, and Hanover Bess, respectively. . The villain of the piece (Enoch Flicker) was passably played by Mr Keogh, and the other characters were well represented. The management are to be congratulated upon the beautiful scenery which they have introduced. Some of the mechanical effects were very good. The music arranged by Mr Leecb seemed to be greatly appreciated. The drama will be.repeated to-night, when wo may note even a better representation than that of last evening.

(Members of the Committee of tho Christ mas Fat Stook Exhibition are requested to meet at half-past 2 o'clock this afternoon at Jones's Hotel, Manse street.

The annual meeting of the Congregational Church Town Mission will take place in the church this evening. Tea will be oa the table all 6 o'clock.